A Step-By-Step Guide to Applying to RCDS

If you have already submitted an application, please refer to the application checklist and deadlines in the online application portal as you complete all of the required components.

Please note: September 1 is the cut-off date for a Lower School applicant's date of birth (Pre-K - Grade 4). For example, applicants to Pre-Kindergarten must be age 4 by September 1 of the year of entrance. This is a firm policy with no exceptions.

To apply to Rye Country Day School, please create an account on our secure Online Application Portal. From there, you will be directed to submit an initial application for each applicant, as well as to complete a checklist of required components in the application process.

Call us at 914-925-4513 or email admissions@ryecountryday.org to schedule a visit to campus. We welcome visitors from September through mid-January.

Visit:

We invite all applicants and their families to visit RCDS. We will take you on a tour of campus, explain what we think makes RCDS unique, and answer any questions you may have. We hope this will give you a chance to see what the RCDS experience is all about.

Interview:

For applicants to Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten: The initial visit is with parents only for a tour and meeting with an admissions officer. After that, we schedule an individual screening with the applicant. Applicants to Kindergarten will be seen in late November through December. Applicants to Pre-Kindergarten will be seen in January. In addition, applicants are invited to attend a group visit with other applicants in December for Kindergarten and in January for Pre-Kindergarten. Appointment dates and times will be e-mailed home approximately two weeks prior to screening date.

For applicants to Grades 1 and 2: The initial visit is with parents only for a tour and meeting with an admissions officer. We do not conduct individual student interviews for children entering Grades 1 and 2. Instead, we meet with the parents/guardians during the initial visit to campus, and then ask students to return for individual screenings to be scheduled in late January and February. Appointment dates and times will be e-mailed home approximately two weeks prior to screening date.

For applicants to Grade 3 and above: We ask that all applicants to Grade 3 and above meet with an admissions officer in order to complete a student interview. We require one parent/guardian to accompany the student.

The Rye Country Day School Financial Aid Program uses School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) to establish financial need. Parents/guardians of applicants for financial aid need to complete the Parents Financial Statement (PFS) and submit a copy to RCDS and one to SSS for processing. (In the case of divorced or separated parents, the equivalent form from the non-custodial parent must be submitted as well.) The School also requires that applicants submit a copy of all federal IRS forms filed in the previous year as well as the most recent W2 forms. For more information about SSS, call 800-344-8328 or visit their website at http://sss.nais.org. Parents must apply through SSS online. Required forms must be submitted by December 15. If a student is accepted, financial aid responses will accompany admissions decisions.

Financial aid funds come directly from the resources of the School, and student grants consider the entire expense of attending RCDS. This factors in "extra" costs such as lunch, books, and other expenses. Furthermore, all students who receive financial aid in Grades 7-12 (regardless of the grant size) are loaned a new laptop computer from the School as part of their financial aid grant. RCDS also supports the cost of school-related trips for students who receive financial at the same percentage as their financial aid grant for tuition.

If you are interested in pursuing a financial aid application at RCDS, please be sure to mark the appropriate box on the Admissions Application Form. If you have questions, please inquire further when you visit Rye Country Day School. Please contact Courtney Doucette, Financial Aid Officer, at 914-925-4542 or courtney_doucette@ryecountryday.org. RCDS usually allocates its financial aid budget for new students by February 15, and the granting of aid after this date is subject to availability of funds.

While we fund students from all three divisions, the majority of the grants are given to Middle and Upper School students.

There are limited funds for Lower School students and no financial funds available for Pre-Kindergarten.

For applicants to Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten: We will schedule individual screenings with applicants to Kindergarten from late November through December. Applicants to Pre-Kindergarten will have their individual screenings in January. In addition, applicants are invited to attend a group visit with other applicants in December for Kindergarten and in January for Pre-Kindergarten. Appointment dates and times will be sent approximately two weeks prior to screening date.

For applicants to Grades 1 and 2: We will schedule individual screenings with applicants to Grades 1 and 2 in late January and early February. Appointment dates and times will be sent approximately two weeks prior to screening date.

For applicants to Grades 3 and 4: All applicants to Grades 3 and 4 must take the RCDS Admissions test. Testing will take place on campus on December 9, 2017.

For applicants to Grade 5 and above: Applicants to Grade 5 and above are required to take the ISEE or SSAT. Both tests are viewed equally in the admissions process. Parents are responsible for making testing arrangements. Testing should be scheduled after September 1 of the application year, and no later than mid-January to ensure a completed application folder by January 15.

Active applicants (those prospective students with submitted applications) to Grade 4 and above are strongly encouraged to spend a day shadowing a current RCDS student. Visits are available between October and January. Students will shadow a student in their current grade. Call the Admissions Office (914-925-4513) to make arrangements.

Please note, applicants for Grade 5 and above must complete the Student Questionnaire before visiting.

RCDS will respond to applications on approximately February 17 for Grade 5 and above, and February 24 for all Lower School applicants (PK - Grade 4), provided that the Application Folder is completed by January 15.

Rye Country Day School

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for our Lower School (Pre-K through Grade 4). If you are interested in a second round application (for Grades 5-12 ONLY), please call the Admissions Office at 914-925-4513.